Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has underscored India’s growing credibility on the global stage, describing the country as a “trusted partner to the world,” even as trade negotiations with the United States continue to evolve. 

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Vaishnaw was responding to a question on the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement, discussions on which have been underway since last year. “We are a trusted partner to the world,” the minister said, highlighting India’s consistent engagement with global partners across sectors. 

The negotiations, however, have not been without challenges. Talks faced a major setback after former US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, among the highest levied globally. In recent months, the US has indicated a renewed intent to rebuild ties with India. This was underlined by remarks from Trump’s new ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who said that no country is as essential to the US as India. 

Gobal interest in India’s approach to tech

Vaishnaw also spoke about the global interest in India’s approach to technology, particularly the democratisation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. He said there is considerable curiosity worldwide about India’s model of ensuring that the benefits of AI and technological innovation reach all sections of society. “Democratisation of technology is the right way forward,” he said, stressing that inclusive access will be key to sustainable global growth. 

On India’s participation at Davos, the minister reiterated the Centre’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cooperative federalism. He said the Union government welcomes more states to be part of India’s WEF delegations and actively facilitates their engagement with global business and policy leaders. This year, 10 Indian states are participating at Davos. “The more the number of states, the better,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the Centre helps states set up meetings aligned with their investment and development priorities. 

Maharashtra CM at Davos

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was also present at the event, echoed these views, saying India’s presence at Davos is being registered “in a major way.” He said states are attending the forum in the spirit of cooperative federalism, gaining exposure to global best practices and signing key agreements. 

Fadnavis said the discussions centred on the transformative role of Digital Public Infrastructure in India and its contribution to inclusive governance, noting that these digital foundations are also driving Maharashtra’s growth by improving service delivery, fostering innovation and enabling scalable, future-ready solutions. On the sidelines of the event, the chief minister has mentioned about the five memoranda of understanding that he signed, including four with Singaporean companies, for the Raigad Pen Smart City Project. The project, located around 15–20 km from the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport, has been launched through partnerships with five foreign companies. 

Highlighting its significance, Fadnavis said the initiative marks the first time the government is entering into a joint venture with a private entity where land is acquired by the private partner, while development is undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.